The Leslie Frazier Era – Week four

Vikings – Bears

Since Monday’s beatdown at the hands of the New York Giants, I’ve been trying to figure out if there is a reason why I should watch the Vikings game against Chicago.

When a team gets eliminated from the playoffs like the Vikings just did, what keeps a fan like me coming back is the future. I want to see the younger players performing. I want to see if any of them show the potential of being cornerstone players in the future.

The problem with this Vikings team is they don’t have many players like that. It’s a team with a lot of veterans whose pros and cons are well-known and a collection of a few younger stars who we already know are pretty good. There’s not much to discover with this team.

Even the fact that it looks like Joe Webb will get the start at quarterback doesn’t do much for me.

Yes, most Vikings fans are excited about Webb’s athletic ability (check out this YouTube video). But most of us also realize Webb is woefully unprepared to start an NFL game at this stage in his career.

And if he is the Vikings quarterback of the future, it’s a future that is likely two, three and maybe even four seasons away. This isn’t good because the Vikings need a quarterback of the future now.

So we’re likely in for some very bad football – particularly offensive football – from the Vikings over the final three games. It’s not going to be very fun to watch. But I will watch.

Leslie Frazier

I think the Vikings quarterback situation right now also makes it hard for owner Zygi Wilf to make his decision on whether Leslie Frazier should be the next head coach.

Of course, there is an interview process Frazier will have to go through. But the Vikings performance on the field during Frazier’s six-game stint as interim head coach will colour Wilf’s decision in some way. And it’s going to be hard for Frazier to look good if Joe Webb or Patrick Ramsey are his quarterbacks.

A bit more on Joe Webb

You hear coaches say it all the time – “We’ve got to put our players in positions to be successful.”

For Webb to be successful at all Monday night against the Bears, he’s going to have to run a lot.

Running a lot will put Webb in harms way. But he should still be encouraged to take off running whenever he feels like it by the Vikings coaching staff. Joe Webb isn’t beating anyone with his arm.